About & Administration

Established in 1920, Kailua Beach Park originally comprised 25 acres of land transferred from the Territory of Hawaii to the City and County of Honolulu for the creation of a public shoreline reserve. Over the next seven decades, the City conducted incremental land acquisitions to increase the park's depth, remove private tracts, and establish a contiguous public beach front.

A key milestone was the acquisition of the former "Camp Kailani" property in 1984. Originally constructed by the United Methodist Church in the 1940s, the City acquired the parcel due to escalating urban demands. Under the administration of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the site was renamed "Camp Kailua." In April 1991, the DPR permanently closed and dismantled the structures to restore the coastal zone to natural, open public parkland.

To protect community integrity and prevent overcrowding, overnight tent camping was officially prohibited within the park limits in 1970. Active dune restoration is continuously coordinated between City departments, the DLNR, and Hawaii Sea Grant to combat rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

In 1989, the State of Hawaii designated the waters of Kailua Bay as a specialized Ocean Recreation Management Area (ORMA). This administrative framework is managed by the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).

The ORMA regulates commercial operations, establishes strict non-commercial zones, and designates distinct launch and transit boundaries to reduce conflicts between swimmers, kayakers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders. All commercial activities (including professional photoshoots, kayak rentals, and guided tours) require formal municipal permits.